Grammer Receives Volkswagen Group Award

AMBERG, Germany, July 27 -- Grammer AG has received the 2005 Volkswagen Group Award, presented annually to the company's best suppliers. Recognition is based on development competence, product quality, logistics, business achievement and environmental awareness.

Grammer won in the "development competence" category for the new Passat's complete center console. Criteria included innovative capability, technical equipment, project-and-process competence and the quality of Grammer's cooperation with VW.

Uwe Woehner, director of Grammer AG's automotive division, accepted the award from Bernd Pischetsrieder, chairman of the board of directors of Volkswagen AG, and Francisco J. Garcia Sanz, VW board director, purchasing.

"Special thanks are due to the project team for this product -- led by Grammer's vice president of global supply chain management, Georg Flor -- for an exceptional job in project management and successful completion on schedule," said Woehner. "This prize validates their work and encourages them to strive for greater achievement."

The Passat center console systems takes advantage of Grammer's technology excellence, which has made it one of the most "benchmarked" companies in the segment.

Grammer AG is a world leader in the development and manufacture of innovative components and systems for automobile interiors. Wherever people use vehicles, Grammer, based in Amberg, Germany, sets the standards for safety, comfort and ergonomics. Automotive is the company's largest division and supplies headrests, armrests, center consoles and integrated child-booster seats to vehicle manufacturers and their tier 1 systems suppliers.

The company's second division, Seating Systems, provides driver seats for heavy trucks and off-road vehicles (tractors, construction machinery, fork- lifts) as well as passenger seats for trains and buses. Grammer Seating Systems is active both as a first-time supplier and as a retrofitter.

As a global player, the Grammer Group operates with a strong customer focus that includes location of development and production facilities close to clients and relies on an international network of partners. In fiscal 2003, Grammer Group sales were $992 million; North American sales totaled $145 million. With over 7,500 employees, Grammer and its 20 consolidated companies operate in 13 different countries worldwide.

Additional information is available by e-mail at AutomotiveInfo.Troy@grammer.com .